Happy New Year!!! Our hearts are full as we reflect upon 2018 and pause for a moment to express our sincere appreciation for your presence in our lives…both the newest connections and our longtime relationships. We are blessed to know you. Here’s a “little” update about our year, including countless firsts and adventures around the world.
We kicked off January last year in North Carolina with my Dad and Oma, and cousins Emma and Oliver. Making gingerbread houses, playing in the snow and getting Shanti and Riser on skis for the first time at Cataloochee were among the highlights! Brrrrrrr! But, lots of fun. In February, we started piano lessons for both kids. Riser fell in love with piano and continued throughout the year. We were so proud to see him courageously play Little Drummer Boy and his other favorites at my Mom’s care facility and at a friend’s holiday party on a grand piano. It’s wonderful having piano in the house again and playing too!
In March, we almost lost my Mom. But after a week of visits from lots of family, she surprised us all and bounced back. Her Alzheimer’s is very advanced, but the kids and I still enjoy every “moment of connection” we get with her, hugs in person and making her laugh! Her husband Andy visits her almost daily, bringing milkshakes which she enjoys immensely. We made 5+ trips this year. Even with the long 7+ hour drive to Sacramento, the kids and I have learned to make it a fun and bonding experience playing games, singing and talking about life. We even made it one trip without watching a single DVD!
For Spring Break we went to Lake Tahoe after a visit with Mom in Sacramento. We enjoyed skiing on my birthday (April 5th) and the kids had their second ski lesson. Meeting up with dear friends Jeanna and Steve and their boys made it exponentially more fun. Dinners, ice skating, watching a magic show and bungee jumping on trampolines with harnesses created even more memorable moments.
John and I splurged for our 12thanniversary in May, flying to Vegas without kiddos for one of Elton John’s final performances. It was spectacular! Unfortunately, I also broke my foot in May, days before the school’s Legoland Day. Gratefully, my angelic friend Becky pushed me around via wheelchair and we got to enjoy the day without standing in lines. I became super appreciative of the motorized carts at grocery stores, my knee scooter and the comfy boot!
But, this didn’t stop us from packing up and MOVING at the end of June! Somehow, I even managed to get in 15,410 steps in on move day. After being super cramped in our last place, we’re happy to have elbow room again, along with a great view, pool and guest bedroom, so please come stay with us in California! The day after my boot came off my healed-up foot, we flew to South Carolina to spend a week with my Dad and Oma on Pawley’s Island, SC, along with Ben, Emma and Oliver. We enjoyed daily visits to the beach and ice cream shops. The kids loved playing in the waves and building sandcastles. My physical therapy included s-l-o-w walks on the beach with my very stiff foot, which is much better now. After, we spent 3 more days on Kiawah Island, exploring the Charleston area.
In August, we celebrated Shanti and Riser’s 6th birthday with a big pool party and all their friends. 6 years? How did that happen? Later in the month, we attended Roger and Leslie’s ritual filled wedding in San Jose, and the kids got to see skyTran’s lab at NASA. While observing CAD designs in John’s office, one of the kids’ favorite sayings became, “Dad! You forgot the wheels!” Sparks laughter every time. Maybe a marketing slogan in the future?
This Fall, the kids officially started first grade! We also went sailing on Becky and Brett’s boat off Dana Point. Riser LOVED being captain! Shanti eventually took the helm too. The kids also joined a soccer team mid-season. There wasn’t room on a girls’ team, so Shanti joined the boys’ team without skipping a beat. Riser always managed to score at the games. After the holidays they both took a soccer camp and learned several fancy new kicks for 2019. They love soccer! Birthday parties galore, attending 3 weddings, performing in The Lion King and Spring Show, Sunday morning dance parties in the living room, yoga and gatherings with treasured friends and family were among other highlights. And Shanti lost her first tooth!
skyTran expanded the team in their new Irvine facility, closed another round of major financing, added Reliance (Mukesh Ambani) and OurCrowd to the list of notable investors, made remarkable progress on the next generation guideway and vehicle, and is on track for the next prototype flying in mid 2019. Watch 2 minute video at www.skytran.com. We want to thank each skyTran team member for their dedication, sacrifice and brilliance. It’s extraordinary what this lean, yet effective team is accomplishing! As CEO, John has maintained his 1K status on United with frequent visits to Mexico, Israel, UAE, India, along with stops in Charleston, Connecticut, Boston, Texas, Florida, Colorado, and New Orleans meeting investors, vendors and potential customers. Multiple projects are in consideration for the first official skyTran system. Stay tuned.
With over 60+ days of travel, I’ve gotten pretty adept at managing the household in what I call “double time.” With young twins, I have to move at double the speed in his absence. It’s definitely way easier when he’s in town. Last Fall was my 20-year anniversary for my coaching business. I continue to enjoy supporting my clients and their companies. In addition, I write as much as I can for my upcoming book, newsletter and magazine articles. It’s never as much as I’d like. Hoping to get away a few days this year to dedicate uninterrupted time since it’s clear more people can benefit from mastering the art of finding inner peace in any moment, which is, of course, the focus of my book.
Perhaps the grandest highlight was accepting the invitation from the Ambani family for their daughter Isha’s wedding to Anand Piramal in India! After learning how spectacular Indian weddings are, we knew we had to go, and took the kids. We had countless magic moments over 2 weeks! The kids and I had 3 nights in Delhi to acclimate and shop. Gratefully, skyTran’s Ankur, lives in India and his wife, Prachi, graciously took us everywhere, helped me pick out gorgeous Indian attire, shared all things India, and cooked the tastiest Indian food I’ve ever had. John joined us the last night in Delhi, and we all flew to Udaipur. The wedding festivities included 5 events over 7 days in Udaipur and Mumbai. It was beyond words! We made many new friends with distinguished guests, CEO’s and celebrities from around the world. We soaked in the abundance of beauty, flowers, music, and tantalizing delights and surprises at every turn. The kids danced with dandiya sticks, threw thousands of flower pedals in the air, pet an elephant (they sure are fuzzy… and BIG!), and were next to the stage for the private concert by Beyoncé. The kids were also fascinated by the cows roaming freely in the streets, counting as many as 63 between the airport and hotel. Everyone delighted when they learned of Shanti’s name, which mean “peace” in Hindi. The rituals were meaningful and heartfelt, including the majestic wedding ceremony at the Ambani residence. We feel blessed to be part of Isha and Anand’s union and the entire experience will forever be imprinted in our hearts.
As we reflect on all the happenings of 2018, it’s clear that what matters most are the meaningful connections, friendships and relationships in our lives and being present to the magic moments along the way. May your year be filled with love, joy, abundance and magic moments galore. And may our relationships deepen through shared experiences and conversations throughout the year.
With love & gratitude,
Mary & John
